UK council has finance decisions removed after splurge on solar projects
The local authority in Thurrock, England, has had control of its financial decisions passed to neighboring Essex County Council after racking up debts of more than GBP 1 billion ($1.1 billion) over four years, including more than GBP 800 million invested in solar bonds.
The Hydrogen Stream: Condensed hydrogen on smooth surfaces can sharply exceed liquid hydrogen density
A German-US research team has shown that hydrogen condenses on smooth surfaces at a very low temperature, forming a super-dense monolayer that reduces the volume to just 5 liters per kilogram of H2. Dutch researchers, meanwhile, have published a new study on hydrogen storage in porous rocks, and Itochu said it is moving forward with hydrogen plans in Japan and South Africa.
Solar tech theft rising in Germany amid supply bottlenecks
The Saxony State Criminal Police Office in Germany has blamed the energy crisis and growing solar demand for an increase in the theft of modules and inverters.
Storing renewables with seawater batteries
Scientists in Germany have studied how seawater batteries could be used for renewables storage and desalination.
Dutch agency investigates cybersecurity of PV inverters after hack
Radiocommunications Agency Netherlands launched a probe after a hacker gained access to PV systems operated via a monitoring tool from China’s Solarman. A company spokesperson told pv magazine that the problem has since been resolved.
Solar companies consider reduced income to help UK households
Solar Energy UK members have made positive noises about a plan to shift historic, fixed-payment incentive contracts over to contracts-for-difference deals, which would limit the profits they would receive from soaring energy prices.
Shell, Green Tie Capital to jointly deploy 2 GW of PV in Spain
Shell, with a portfolio of more than 1 GW in Spain, will team up with Green Tie Capital, which has developed more than 3 GW of ground-mounted PV projects.
Greece readies €340 million grid-scale storage plan
Developers in Greece will bid to secure annual payments for large-scale storage facilities that must be operational before 2026.
The Hydrogen Stream: BMW starts in-house production of fuel cells for iX5 Hydrogen
BMW Group said it is targeting the premium segment with its iX5 Hydrogen car, Topsoe revealed that it will invest $267 million to build the world’s largest SOEC electrolyzer plant in Denmark, and Bosch announced plans to invest $200 million in US fuel cell production.
Portugal added 546 MW of solar in H1
Portugal’s cumulative PV capacity hit 2.19 GW in June, outpacing the growth of other energy sources.
